Feed-regulator for os l-stoves



(No Model.)

W. E. EASTMAN.

FEED REGULATOR POR OIL STOVES. Y

No. 308,955. A' Patented Deo.f9, 1884.

I mum Ilm fnv/'anmi- Unitarian STaTns FATTNT @Trace VILLIAM F. EASTMAN, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

FEED-REGULATOR FOR OlLSTOVES.

SPECEEIGATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 308,955l dated DeCembe19. 1884.

Application filed November 8, 1883. (No model.)

ipo (LZZ whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. EasrMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Feed-Regulators for Oil- Stoves, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The object of my invention is to provide a reliable automatic feed-regulator, particularly for oil-stoves to be used as heaters for freightcars, for which the following-named United States patents have been granted to myself and associates,to wit: No. 247,028,No. 248,924, No. 253,521, and No. 269,189; but it is also applicable to oil-stoves for heating other moving vehicles,or forheating rooms, or for cooking. The reservoir of oil or other liquid fuel may be placed at a higher level than the fire, and thus feed by gravity; or it may be placed at a lower level than the lire and feed by pressure, as compressed air in a closed tank above the liquid. The latter method is preferable for feeding stoves for heating or cooking in stationary structures, as the reservoir can be located in the cellar.

The construction of my devices is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of an oilstove with the regulator attached. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the regulator. Fig. 3 shows in section that portion of the regulator carrying ascrew-valve for cutting off entirely the flow of fuel to the stove; and Fig. 4 is perspective view ofthe valve proper, showing the grooves i and 7e, hereinafter' more fully explained. Fig. 5 is an enlarged section representingthe valve and valve-case, with a permanently-open passage through the latter for the continuous flow of` the liquid fuel from the supply-tank to the burner. Fig. 6 is a similar section representing the permanentlyopen passage through the valve, that through the valve-case being omitted.

The same letters of reference indicate like parts in the several views.

Ais a tube, of brass or other highly-expansible metal or alloy, which is attached rigidly to the dome C.

Within thetube A is a rod or tube, B, of

iron or other metal or alloy less expansible by the heat than the tube A. This inner rod or tube,B,is connected to the tube Aat or near the free end of the latter by ath readed cap or head engaging with a screw-thread cut in the inner surface of the tube A, as is clearly shown in the drawings. The outer end,b, of this cap or head a is made square in cross-section, or preferably of an irregular form, so as to be turned only by the special key K, for reasons hereinafter fully explained. The other end of the rod or tube B touches and by differential expansion of the pair operates the diaphragm d, which is soldered or otherwise properly attached at its periphery to the under side of the dome C. The dome C is screwed down into the valve-case D, so as to make an oil -tight joint, and the ring ois screwed down upon it to act as a check-nut.

Under the diaphragm d is the valve E, which by its movements regulates the iiow of fuel to the stove. A lower valve-seat, f, is formed in the valve-case D, and an upper valve-seat, c, is formed by a recess in the ring o, which ring is screwed down in the recess, a part of which forms the lower valve-seat, f. The stem of the valve E passes loosely through this ring o, and as the recess in the ring is somewhat larger than the diameter of the valve the oil can freely pass when the valve is not seated.

Upon the upper side of the valve E is the small groove i, and upon the lower surface a similar groove, k, as shown in Fig. 4.

Below the valve E is a cylindrical chamber containing the follower 7L and the spring g. The follower is always forced up against the valve by the spring, the constant tendency being to carry the valve to its upperseat, e. The inlet m enters this chamber, while the outlet u leads from the space above the valve and below the elastic impervious diaphragm d. Then occasion requires, the flow of fuel tothe stove is entirely prevented by closure of the screw-valve p. (Shown in section in` Fig. 3.) Vings upon the under side of the valve E t closely in the chamber below the valve and prevent lateral movement.

The use of the impervious elastic diaphragm d is a necessity when the fuel is to be fed under artificial pressure; but itmay be omitted if the pressure is due merely to gravity from IOO a reservoir whose highest Ypoint is not higher than the top of the tube A.

The Voperation of my device is as follows:`

Then the temperature of the surrounding air is low, the contraction of the unequal-expansion pair A B, acting u-pon the valve E through the diaphragm d, forces the valve lirmly upon its lower seat, f. If, now, the screw-valve p be opened, so much liquid fuel only as can pass through the groove 7a will iiow through (or around) the valve; but this quantity will bc sufficient to start the fire. As the heat of the stove increases, the pair A B, by eXpansion, will relieve the valve somewhat from the pressure upon it and allow the spring g to move it upward toward its upper seat, e, increasing the flow of fuel. The largest quantity will flow when the valve is just half-way between its seats, and consequently any further expansion ol" the pair A B will diminish the tlow of fuel. The iiow, however, can liever be entirely stopped, as the groove fi, when the valve is fully upon its upper seat, will always allow a small quantity to pass. l It will be seen that during one part oi' the movement of the valve from one oi' its seats to the other an increase of heat will increase the iiow of fuel, while during the remainder of the movement an increase of heat will diminish thei'low. rlhe movementof the valve, however, when the lire is well started, is confined between the midway position and the upper seat..

rlhe adjustment. oi' the iron rod or tube B within the brass tube A is found to be one requiringI great care. and considerable experience, and for this reason the longitudinal movement obtained by screwing the same in or out is arranged, as before stated, to be ef fected only by a special key, K. This is especially necessary when the device is usedv upon moving vehicles, as it isr likely to be tampered with by unskilled persons wh ose attenipts at adjustment would'V almost certainly be disastrous.

rIhe grooves 'L' and L serve, as already eX- plained, to prevent entire stoppage ofthe flow, no matter upon which seat the valve is; but the same result may be obtained by a small hole,.z2, passing entirely through the valve, or from the chamber below the valve through the substance of the valve-case tothe space above the valve, or by any other suitable equivalent device.

Instead of using a single valve having two seats, as described, I may employ ltwo valves,v each having an independent seat-for instance, two'valves may be secured to or operatedby the opposite ends of a lever having an interposed flcrum, one valve being seated while the other is unseated; but I prefer `the construction shown and previously described, as thereby I economize space.

Instead of a continuously open passage through the valve-case, as shown in Fio. 5, an open passage through the valve may be formed, as shown in Fig. 6, the grooves i and 7c in the valve and the passage in the valvecase in such construction being omitted.

Having thus fully described my invention, I cla-im the following:

l. The unequalexpansion pair ory combinat-ion A B, the valve E, having a permanently-open passage, a valve-case having two seats, c f, combined, constructed, and arranged in such manner that the flow of fuel will be increased by an increase of the temperature ofthe pair or combination whenbelow a predetermined degree, and be decreased by the increase of the temperature of the pair or combination when. above said predetermined temperature, -for the purpose speci-tied.

2. An automatic feed-regulator for oilstoves, consisting of a two-seated vvalve actuated in one direction by the differential expansion of an unequalexpansion pair, and in the opposite direction by the expansion of a spring, in combination with a permanentlyopen passage for preventing the entire stoppage of the flow of the fuel to the burner when the valve is upon either seat, for the purpose set forth.

3. A spring-actuated two-seated valve,.an unequal-expansion pair orcombination for controlling the same, and a device for regulating the adjustment of the expansion pair or combination,h as and for the purpose speci-.V

4. The unequalf'expansion parA B, in combination with the valve E, having Vits upper and lower surfaces each provided with a groove, the valve-seats e f, andthe spring y, for the purpose` described.

5. Aliquid-fuel heater, an unequal-expansion pair A B, au elastic impervious diaphragm, d, a doubleseated spring-actuated valve, E, with its grooves t' 7.1, combined and constructedto operate as and for the. purpose speciiied.

6. The follower 7L, spring' g, valve E, with its grooves i the Vvalve-seats e f, and-tixediaphragm d, in combination withan unequal-- expansion pair, AB, as set'forth.

In testimonywhereof I aiii-X my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VILLIAM E. EAST-MAN.

Witnesses:

W. FREDERICK KIMBALL, CHARLns H. PRATT.

IOO

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